Pivotal sliding closure



A ril 3, 1962 C. R. NICKLAS PIVOTAL SLIDING CLOSURE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l Catherine R. Nick/as INVENTOR.

9 BY Wm April 3, 1962 c. R. NICKLAS 3,027,606

PIVOTAL SLIDING CLOSURE Gather/he R. Nick/as INVEN TOR.

BY 24 M406.

WW 19m United rates Patent 3,027,606 PIVGTAL SLIDENG CLGSURE Catherine R. Nickles, 7102 SW. 13th St., Miami, Fla. Filed Nov. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 851,451 6 Claims. (Cl. 2%2-19) This invention relates to sliding closures and more particularly to a pivotal sliding closure adapated to be used in many capacities, for instance in building construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a sliding closure capable of functioning as either a sliding door or an overlapped door but yet, capable of pivotally swinging just as with a vertical hung door so that essentially the complete door opening may be available for use in passing therethrough.

Briefly, the invention is embodied in an ordinary closure which has a unique hanger or carriage assembly at the upper and lower ends thereof or merely at either the upper or the lower end provided that appropriate provision is made at the end of the door not equipped with one of the unique hardware carriage assemblies. The carriage assembly functions precisely as any other carriage assembly used in a sliding door construction. However, it has two very important distinguishing features. The first is that the rail on which the carriage moves has means for lightly retaining the sliding door in a selected open position. This means establishes stops and they are of exceedingly simple character, consisting preferably of mere openings in the rails forming seats on which the wheels of the carriage rest. The second very important feature is that of pivotal motion about an axis perpendicular tothe normal sliding movement of the carriage on its rail.

Another featureof the invention is found in a lock that is operatively associated with the spindle assembly of the carriage. The lock is easily manually overridden and automatically drops into engaged position upon opening the door i.e. rotating it about the spindle axis of the carriages. Consequently, during normal use of the doors,

there is no tendency for the doors to swing or attempt to.

swing about the axis of the spindles of the carriages. A light force directed properly, though, will release the latch associated with the upper and lower carriages, when two carriages are used, thereby enabling the door to be swung about the spindle axis. When swung fully i.e. rotated.

through 90 of rotary motion, the latch automatically retains the door in the open position.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanically simple, practical pivotal sliding closure mounting assembly incorporating one or more of the abovediscussed features. 7

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pair of overlapping doors which appear from the exterior to be essentially conventional doors, and they are capable of the sliding motion expected of such doors.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the doors in FIG- URE 1 showing them in the sliding motion which is established by pivoting the doors about the vertical spindles, assuming that the doors are mounted in a vertical plane.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a carriage assembly constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carriage assembly in FIGURE 3 but showing it in a second adjusted position.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to that in FIG- URE 5 but taken at right angles thereto, parts being shown in elevation.

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of a typical carriage assembly in accordance with the invention.

The terms door and closure used herein are intended to designate all closures, doors and the like capable of benefitting by the principles of the invention. Further, although the illustrations in the drawings show upper and lower carriage assemblies which are constructed identically, it is to be clearly understood that it is unnecessary to use two assemblies, and the principles of the invention comprehend the use of a single carriage assembly, either at the top or at the bottom of the closure, and a sliding pivot at the opposite end.

Referring to the pair of doors 10 and 12 respectively with which the invention is associated, it is to be further understood that two doors are not essential. A single door may be used. Inasmuch as a very practical application is in connection with a pair of overlap sliding doors, doors 10 and 12 are shown in the drawings. They may be made of any suitable material and in fact, the doors themselves are commercially available. However, the hardware at the top and the bottom of the doors is deemed unique.

In the typical installation there is an upper rail 14 and a lower rail 16, and identical carriages 18 and 20 connected with each. Typical rail 14 has a pair of parallel sides 22 and 24 and a top plate 26 equipped with openings 28 by which to anchor the rail through the use of conventional fasteners 30. The lower or bottom plate 32 of the rail or track 14 has an elongate slot 34 therein along the longitudinal center line thereof. The lower plate 32 has at least one set of openings 36 therein, each set consisting of four openings spaced properly to ac commodate the four wheels 38 of carriage 18. The openings establish stops for carriage 18 by having the wheels drop slightly therein i.e. to the depth permitted by the wheel diameter and size of the openings 36. A distinct stopping motion is experienced in moving carriage 18 over the upper surface of rail plate 32 when the wheels drop into the opening, and this will retain the door it).

in a selected open position insofar as horizontal sliding movement is concerned.

Carriage 18 is made of a carriage body as, for instance a metal or plastic block, and it has two axles 42 and 44 near the ends thereof. The wheels 44) are at the ends of the axles, and notches 46 are formed in the two sides of body 40 within which wheels 38 are inset. Mounting bracket 48, consisting of a channel, has a pair of sides 5% and 52 adapted to straddle the upper edge of door 10. Slots 54 in the sides 50 and 52 receive fasteners, for instance screws 56 by which to adjustably couple the bracket to the door. Sleeve 58 is welded or otherwise secured, for instance made integral with, the center of bracket 48, and it forms a socket by which to receive spindle 60. Set-screw 62 or a similar fastener, is used to attach the spindle in the socket (FIGURE 5) thereby holding the spindle fastened to the socket and consequently, bracket 4-3. The spindle extends through slot 34 of rail 14 and through a counterbored opening 64 in the body 40 of the carriage. The counterbore or recess 66 of the opening 64 has radial slots 63 opening into the cylindrical wall thereof. Two spring locks 69 and 76, each being identical, are engaged in the pairs of slots 68. The spring locks 69 and 70 are each in the form of a crirnped or angulated spring metal strip, the crimps being arranged such as to form a W shape i.e. two adjoined V-shapes whereby a pair of confronting V-shaped pockets 72 and 74 are defined within the counterbore 66.

Head 76 in the form or" a cam having four lobes thereon, is fixed to one end of spindle 60 and the lobes are a located within the counterbore 66 and specifically, within the area defined by and in between pockets '72 and 74. A lower washer 78 is disposed beneath head 76 and placed on the bottom wall of the counterbore 66. Cramped washer 3t] functioning as a friction enhancing device, is interposed between the lower surface of head 76 and washer 78.

In operation, the door to is capable of sliding as any other sliding door. feature centering about openings 36, the door is capable of swinging about the longitudinal axis of spindle 60 to assume the position shown in FIGURE 2. When the door is so rotated, the carriage 18 becomes adjusted from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 4. At the same time a locking action occurs inasmuch as head 76 rotates as a unit with door It) and causes the locking plates 69 and 70 to deflect as the cam lobes slip from pockets 72 and 74, and the next adjacent cam lobes engage in pockets 72 and 74. Accordingly, the door 10, when moved to the position shown in FIGURE 2, will remeain in that position until a definite and correctly applied force is placed on the door tending to return it about the spindle axis. An important function of door it and door 12 which operates exactly like it, is that the two doors may be moved as a unit or individually when in the open position as shown in FIGURE 2.. In other words, although doors 1% and 12 are shown at one end of the door opening, they may simply be pushed to occupy any position along the full width of the door opening.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes Will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, 'falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pivotal sliding closure comprising a door having an upper edge and a lower edge, means mounting one of said edges in a door opening and including a rail adapted to be secured in a fixed position at the door opening, a carriage in said rail, said carriage including a spindle, means connected with said spindle by which to attach the spindle to the door, and locking means operatively associated with said spindle and carriage to releasably hold said spindle in a selected rotational position and thereby hold the door in a corresponding position, said rail having openings therein along the length thereof, said carriage having wheels by which to mount the carriage in said rail, and said Wheels adapted to drop in part into said openings and thereby releasably retain said carriage in a selected position along the length of said rail, said means for locking said spindle in a selected rotational position including a head on the spindie and cam lobes on said head, said carriage including However, in addition to the locking a body provided with a cylindrical recess within which said head and said cam lobes are operable, and spring means in said recess and engaged by said cam lobes to retain said spindle in the selected rotationally adjusted position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spring means include a spring metal strip having a pocket therein within which said cam lobes are adapted to seat.

A closure comprising a track, a carriage operable in said track and including a wheel supported body having a cylindrical counterbored opening therein, a door, a spindle afiixed to the door and journaled in the opening and comprising a head rotatable in the counterbore thereof for pivotally suspending the door from the carriage for swinging adjustment, and coacting means in the counterbore and on the head releasably securing the door in pivotally adjusted position.

4. A closure comprising a track, a carriage operable in said track and including a wheel supported body having a cylindrical counterbored opening therein, a door, a spindle affixed to the door and journaled in the opening and comprising a head rotatable in the counterbore thereof for pivotally suspending the door from the carriage for swinging adjustment, and coacting means in the counterbore and on the head releasably securing the door in pivotally adjusted position, said means comprising angulated springs mounted in the counterbore with the head betweeen said springs, said head including a plurality of cam lobes frictionally engaged with and tensioning said springs.

5. A closure comprising a track, a carriage operable in said track and including a wheel supported body having a cylindrical counterbored opening therein, a door,

a spindle affixed to the door and journaled in the opening and comprising a head rotatable in the counterbore thereof for pivotally suspending the door from the carriage for swinging adjustment, and coacting means in the counterbore and on the head releasably securing the door in pivotally adjusted position, said means comprising angulated springs mounted in the counterbore with the head between said springs, said head including a plurality of cam lobes frictionally engaged with and tensioning said springs, said counterbore having radial slots therein receiving the end portions of the springs for securing said springs in position therein.

6. A closure in accordance with claim 5, together with a crimped washer on the spindle seated in the counterbore and engaged with the bottom of the head for frictionally resisting rotation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 567,570 Springer Sept. 8, 189.6 569,937 Roof Oct. 20, 1896 760,890 MacKinder May 24, 1904 2,786,240 Tobiasz Mar. 26, 1957 

